North Wales famed for it's beautiful and rugged terrain is a land steeped in legend and mystery.

Few are bigger or have more universal appeal than that of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Acclaimed director Guy Ritchie is the latest to take on the task of bringing the story to life on the big screen when his movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword lands in cinemas worldwide.

But Snowdonia is not just a film set. Its links to Arthurian mythology are deeply rooted in Welsh history, dating back to the dark ages. Much of the stories come from generations of local folklore, and many of the places mentioned in the tales are located right here in Wales.

Professor Raluca Radulescu, lead of Bangor University's MA in Arthurian Literature is thrilled that the film is referencing the Welsh links to the King Arthur stories: "The historical roots of Arthur are in Wales, and more specifically North Wales, and with the story of Myrddin (Merlin of later day) and King Vortigern at Dinas Emrys (Beddgelert).

"With the two dragons fighting, and Llyn Ogwen’s associations with Arthur’s sword Excalibur, one cannot get any closer to the heart of these beloved and internationally-known medieval Welsh legends.

"We hope international audiences will consider visiting Wales as well as our MA in Arthurian Literature, unique in the world, as well as visiting our Special Arthurian collections, hosted by the Centre for Arthurian Studies.

If you want to discover some of King Arthur's kingdom, take a look at some of the places linked to the mythology.

Excalibur’s resting place

The Ogwen valley at dusk (Image: Eryl Crump)

There are several Welsh lakes which are claimed to be the final resting place for the the sword Caledfwlch (Excalibur). Llydaw, Dinas and Ogwen - all of which are in Snowdonia National Park have been linked to the legendary weapon. In Legend of the Sword, Arthur actor Charlie Hunnam throws his sword into one of these lakes, filmed near the valley of Nant Gwynant.

Llyn Dinas is close to the fort of Dinas Emrys and is said to be where Arthur’s knight Sir Owain battled a giant. Local folklore says that the hill by the lake is where Merlin’s treasure is buried.

Tryfan, one of the movie’s locations is said to be the final resting-place of Sir Bedwyr (Bedivere), Arthur's faithful knight who returned the infamous weapon to the Lady of the Lake at the request of the fatally injured King.

According to one legend, when the sword was thrown towards the lake, a woman's arm clothed in silk reached up from the depths of the water, catching the blade before pulling it under.

There are conflicting tales over which lake Bedivere threw the sword into - some say Llyn Llydaw, others insist it was thrown into Llyn Ogwen.

Snowdonia - A range of mythology

The giant

Snowdonia in a scene from the trailer for King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword (Image: Warner Brothers)

Legend says that the summit of Mount Snowdon, Wales’s tallest mountain was the home of Rhitta Gawr, a giant and a tyrant who wore a cape made from beards of his enemies.

When Arthur refuses to part with his facial hair, the monster challenged Arthur to a battle. Arthur overcame the giant with a blow that cut the giant in two.

Arthur’s knights then buried Rhitta, constructing a burial chamber over the body right on the top of the mountain. The area then became known as Yr Wyddfa Fawr, translated as ‘The Great Tomb’.

Eventually it became just Yr Wyddfa which is the Welsh name for Snowdon.

The fortress and the dragons

Dinas Emrys - the mountain is the home of the fierce Welsh Red Dragon.

Beddgelert, a small village in Snowdonia was thought to be the location of a great fortress built by the Welsh King Gwrtheryn - also referred to as Vortigern - from where he defeated the Saxons.

The myth tells of the struggle the King had with his building work, as each day’s work was destroyed overnight. His advisors told him that he needed to sacrifice a child who had been ‘born of no father or mother’ and use the child’s blood to mix in with the mortar.

A child was found, who was conceived by a demon - his name Myrddin Emrys.

Myrddin dreamt every night, ahead of his slaughter that he knew the answer. He told the King that each night, a great fight was taking place between two dragons, one red and one white, in a pool underneath the building. Following the child’s advice, the King dug up the foundations of the fort and found the dragons. They then plied the dragons with alcohol and removed them from the ground.

Myrddin, who would later become Merlin, Arthur’s mentor, explained the dragons represented the Saxons (white) and the Welsh (red). While the white dragon seemed to be triumphant at first, it was later defeated by the red, symbolising that there would be a time in the future when the Welsh would be freed from Saxon rule.

Hardly anything remains of the ancient hill fort at Dinas Emrys - named in honour of Myrddin - but the pool is apparently still there in the form a small rectangle. filled with tall grass.

King Arthur’s last battle

Knights in combat

It is said that Arthur’s final battle took place on Mount Snowdon. Some stories describe how Mordred, Arthur’s nephew is given control of the kingdom while he is away at war in Rome.

Mordred usurps the throne in his absence and forges a relationship with Arthur’s wife Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere). News reached Arthur and he returns home to fight at the Battle of Camlann.

A huge battle took place where Arthur and his knights fought Mordred and were brought down by enemy arrows. This area is now known as Bwlch y Saethau or the Pass of the Arrows. Mordred was ultimately killed, but Arthur was said to have been mortally wounded.

Legend says that Arthur’s body was was covered with stones, which to this day is still known as still known as Carnedd Arthur (Arthur’s Cairn).

After his death, his knights were said to have buried themselves in a cave on the top of the nearby mountain Y Lliwedd where they lie in slumber ready to fight for Wales against their enemies, led by King Arthur.

Another tale describes how Arthur was taken to Avalon, a magical island, to recover from his wounds.

Today ramblers on the Watkin Path can visit the spot of Arthur’s ‘death’ in Coed y Brenin, located just before the path joins with the Rhyd Ddu path, close to the summit.

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The magical island of Avalon

Ynys Enlli / Bardsey Island

According to some mythology, Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) which is located just off the Llyn Peninsula is in fact the Island of Avalon.

The island is home to around 20,000 saints. Some claim that the island is where Arthur himself is said to be buried however other stories claim the island is the final resting place of Myrddin (Merlin).

Legend tells that the wreckage of Arthur’s ship lies at the bottom of Bardsey Sound - the area of water between the island and the mainland.

Avalon is where the enchantress Morgan le Fay and her nine sisters lived on the island, and was the mystical place where Arthur’s magical sword Caledfwlch (Excalibur) was forged.

Monsters in the Lake

(Image: cowlark.com)

Arthur was a proclaimed hero who dispatched monsters and tyrants. Llyn Barfog (the Bearded Lake), just outside Aberdyfi, is said to have been the home of a huge water monster, the Afanc (Addanc).

Some say it resembled a crocodile, others a beaver like creature. Others said the beast was a demon. The Afanc preyed upon anyone that was close enough to the lake.

King Arthur apparently set upon the Afanc, hauling it from the lake and engaging it in battle. But with the help of his horse Llamrai, they dragged it in chains to the wilds of the Cader, never to be seen again.

Close to Llyn Barfog, there is a hoof print etched deep into the rock which is said to have been imprinted by Arthur’s steed, Llamrei during the strugle with the water demon.

Visitors can still see this hoof-mark, now named Carn March Arthur (the stone of Arthur’s horse).

Other folklore claims the location of the lake as Llyn yr Afanc, a lake near Betws-y-Coed which was named after the mythical beast.

The Afon Ogwen (River Ogwen) houses a number of large stepping stones joining its banks in the Ogwen Valley. These stones are known as Sarn y Afanc (The Afanc’s Causeway).

Well of Arthur’s Kitchen

Ffynnon Cegin Arthur (Well of Arthur’s Kitchen) is a Chalybeate spring in Gwynedd, and is now visible as a small brick enclosed chamber with water at the bottom.

One myth dictates that this holy well believed the deposits from cooking fats used in the kitchen of King Arthur floated from the dish water during the washing-up.

Others state that its location in the landscape determines its original meaning as the ‘Well of Arthur’s Ridge’, being used for bathing and cures. The water was said to be a deep red in colour, having a very oily taste.

Camelot and the Round table

(Image: http://www.megalithic.co.uk)

Din Sylwy, also referred to as Bwrdd Arthur (Arthur’s Table) is a well know hill fort in Llanddona, Anglesey. It is a 164 metre (538ft) flat topped limestone hill located east of Red Wharf Bay.

The whole site, including the tiny medieval church of St Michael is a scheduled monument as it is believed to be of significance during the Roman invasion.

Some speculate that this could be a candidate for the legendary Round Table, arguing that the meaning of table has morphed over time, from a meeting place to an item of furniture.

Several locations are considered possible spots for the fabled Camelot, including;

The Roman Amphitheatre in Caerleon. In 1587 Thomas Churchyard wrote of Caerleon:

"In Arthur’s tyme, a table round,

Was whereat he sate:

As yet a plot of goodly ground,

Sets forth that rare estate..."

Winchester Castle in Hampshire also claims to be home of the table, where a round wooden table top is displayed in the Great Hall which lists the names of Arthur and his Knights.

(Image: Getty Images)

Tintagel Castle in Cornwall was long believed to be the likely location for Camelot and also noted as the place that King Arthur was said to have been conceived, But last year a retired scholar of ancient literature Professor Peter Field announced that he had located the real location of the home Camelot - a Roman fort in Slack, just outside of Huddersfield, Yorkshire. If King Arthur existed he would have lived in the Dark Ages which were ravaged by war and little was recorded.

There was no mention of Camelot during this time, The fort in Yorkshire was referred to as Camulodunum, which means the fort of the god Camul and could be the source of the name Camelot. It’s location between Chester and York would have been the perfect spot to command troops during the time of King Arthur.

Chester: Other researchers have claimed that the fabled King Arthur’s Court was built on the site of a recently discovered Roman Amphitheatre in Chester.

The round table has traditionally been depicted as a circular piece of furniture, chosen for its shape meaning no-on would be able to sit at the ‘head’.

However, historians believe that the table is a huge structure which would have allowed followers to gather - likely to be housed in a structure left over from the Roman occupation.

Arthur’s School

Llyn Tegid, Bala (Image: Arthur Salisbury)

Caer Gai in Llanuwchllyn, near Bala is a Roman fort that was occupied until the 2nd century. It is said that King Arthur used the fort after the Romans left Britain.

The name suggests a link to the knight Sir Cai (Kai). One version of the story states that Cai is the foster brother of Arthur who was capable of drinking as much as four men and famed for killing monsters and witches. The pair were supposedly brought up together and educated at Caer Gai.

The site is now situated where the Dee enters Llyn Tegid on the grounds of a farm, but the remains of the fort can still be seen in front of the Caer Gai farmhouse.

Marriage place of Arthur and Guinevere

(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)

Cnwclas (Knucklas) Castle in Powys no longer stands but the castle mound is protected ancient monument. The castle was captured and destroyed by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr in 1402.

Folklore states that King Arthur married his beloved Guinevere on the grassy slopes of the hill.

In one story, a giant had imprisoned three of Guinevere’s brothers, so Arthur set out to rescue them, beheading the largest giant throwing the head into the nearby River Teme. He then used it as a stepping stone to get to Cnwclas to wed his love.

Arthur’s Grave

(Image: ERYL CRUMP)

King Arthur is said to never die, but merely waiting in rest with his knights ready to reclaim Wales in their hour of need.

But many locations in the UK lay claim to being the final yet temporary resting place of King Arthur. Those in Wales include:

The summit of Snowdon, where it is believe his knights buried him beneath some stones after being fatally wounded during battle.

Bardsey Island, which is widely believed to be the magical island of Avalon and the burial place of the king,

Craig y Ddinas, where the sleeping warriors lie. Legend says that a Welsh man is given the location of the cave, which was filled full of armour and treasure alongside warriors in slumber. The man was warned that the army was Arthur and his warriors in waiting ready for the day they were called upon to destroy the enemies of the Cymyry and re-take the island of Britain, re-establishing their king and government.

St Peter’s Super Montem Church in Bridgend where in 1990, archaeologists dug up an ancient axe, a knife and a small cross that read “Pro Anima Artorius”, meaning For The Soul Of Arthur. These finds came after a King Arthur memorial stone had been discovered at St Peter’s which led to speculation that Arthur might be buried there.

Bedd Arthur, a possible megalithic monument in the Preseli Hills which is claimed by local folklore to be the burial place of king arthur.

Several sites in the Preseli region claim to be his final resting place - Cromlechau Meibion Arthur in Nevern, Garn Arthur and Cerrig Meibion Arthur in Mynachiog-Ddu, and Bwrdd Arthur in Llanboidy.

The Sword in the Stone

(Image: Handout)

Unlike the Disney film, the sword pulled from the stone by Arthur is an entirely different sword to his magical blade, Excalibur.

The sword in the stone is associated with the legend that whoever was able to pull the sword from the stone would be the true king and be destined to find the Holy Grail.

Arthur obtained the throne after years of hiding away with his mother in the woodlands so that he would escape the same fate as his father and six brothers - certain death.

When Arthur came of age, he stumbled into a group of Knights who subsequently trained Arthur in the ways of the sword, unbeknown to them that he was the rightful heir to the crown.

Whereas this myth is probably the most famous of the King Arthur tales, the actual sword in the stone is likely to be a story derived from a weapon in Italy, that is to this day, still embedded in the rock.

The Holy Grail

Different traditions describe the grail as a cup, dish or stone with miraculous powers that provide happiness and eternal youth in infinite abundance.

Researchers say there is a clear link between the Llangollen area and King Arthur and his fabled quest for the Holy Grail - which was said to contain the blood of Christ and brought to ancient Britain by Joseph of Arimathea.